VOSH-Indiana and Ambassadors for Children carried out a history-making mission trip to Havana, Cuba, in October 1999. With the blessings of the US government, 173 people departed Indianapolis on a chartered ATA plane. It would be the first commercial flight to Cuba from any city other than Miami. The VOSH-Indiana group consisted of 60 optometrists and workers. We were able to provide eyecare to over 3000 people.
The following pictures show not only the work portion of the mission, but also the after-hours activities.
For a large, full view of the photo . . . click on the picture.
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A typical street in Havana. |
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Market in Havana. |
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Cathedral on the square in Havana. |
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Havana. |
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Kids are the same everywhere. |
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Optical shop in Havana. Most people cannot afford to buy glasses there. |
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Ruth Berkling on the ATA charter flight to Havana. |
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Worksite Havana. |
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Wedding party . . . note the 1957 Ford Convertible. |
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Bob Merriam doing autorefraction. |
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Worksite. |
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Sunrise from the hotel window. |
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Refraction by VOSH member JJ Abrams. |
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Worksite. |
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A night at the LEGENDARY Tropicana Night Club. |
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A night at the LEGENDARY Tropicana Night Club. |
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A night at the LEGENDARY Tropicana Night Club. |
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A night at the LEGENDARY Tropicana Night Club. |
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A night at the LEGENDARY Tropicana Night Club. |
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Refraction by VOSH member Steve Seward. |
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Ruth and Vivien at a small food market. |
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Remnants of a large Chinatown in Havana. |
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Two happy ODs with one of the tour guides. |
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Havana airport. |
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Streets of Havana. |